Tag Archives: Farm Safety

WITH schools now on summer holidays the dangers that farms can pose to children have been highlighted by gardaí in Clare. “Now that schools are over and the weather is hopefully starting to get good, kids are out and about on farms, but farms are a workplace and unfortunately children are killed every year on farms,” warns Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. “Never allow a child onto a farmyard unless they are closely supervised by an adult. It’s not possible to safely look after your child and work on the farm at the same time.” She has issued advice to those who live on a farm saying, “Keep children out of work areas. Have a fenced off safe play area in view of your home. Have easy to read danger signs and tell children what they mean.” All unattended vehicles should be locked and the keys removed and kept away from children. Safety measures should be put in …

As this week marks the fifth Farm Safety Week, Minister Ciaran Cannon has asked people to remember that farms are workplaces and not playgrounds. Last year, 21 people lost their lives in farm-related accidents which was an increase of 3 fatalities on 2015. Minister Cannon said, “Farm Safety Week is a valuable opportunity for farmers to review the safety of their daily farming practices. Sadly, farming has one of the lowest safety records of any occupation in the country. This week is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of hidden dangers in the farming environment and assess potential risks as any farm accident can lead to a fatality or life-altering injuries. I would encourage farmers to participate in the many farm safety events being held this week and to consider availing themselves of the discounts being offered on safety equipment from retailers across the country.”

This week is the fourth annual Farm Safety Week, an initiative aimed at reducing the number of farm accidents. At the moment, the agriculture industry has the poorest safety record of any occupation in Ireland and the UK. During Farm Safety Week (4-8 July) there will be five days of themed practical farm safety advice and guidance asking farmers to consider ‘Who would fill your boots?’ if an accident occurred on the farm. Macra na Feirme continues to show leadership in our work to promote farm safety. We work with all stakeholders on the Farm Safety Partnership to promote the safety message. Macra na Feirme have partnered with the Farm Contractors of Ireland to roll out a safe tractor driving course through the Young Farmer Skillnet Training Programme. The training programme is compiling a practical farm safety skills course which will be launched shortly and deliver practical safety training to young farmers. Macra na Feirme partners with IFAC Accountants for …

Teagasc has called on farmers to make their own safety, and their families’ safety, top priority in 2016.   This follows another year of high Irish farm deaths, when 17 persons died (provisional figure), compared to 30 in 2014. Teagasc health and safety officer, John McNamara has called for particular vigilance in January as farm work increases, giving rise to increased risk.  He stated that January and March have about 9% and 12% respectively, of annual fatal farm accidents, which is associated with high levels of work activity. Dr McNamara said that while each accident has individual factors, contact with machinery and equipment (41%), livestock incidents (24%) and falls from heights (18%) were the predominant associated causes in 2015. Dr McNamara r pointed out that up to €395 million is available in Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 2) funding up to the end of 2019. A considerable number of measures are included which support making farms safer and more efficient workplaces. These include …

THE impact of an accident, even a minor one, can have long-term repercussions for a farmer. One Clare man recalls how he had an accident with livestock that left him needing surgery but he couldn’t have the necessary operation until later in the year when work on the farm eased off. Andrew Dundas is a mixed farmer from Ardnacrusha. He is also Clare’s IFA chairman and looking back on an accident he had two years ago, even now he is not sure he could have prevented it. “With the best care in the world, something can happen. Whatever about taking chances, you can often get caught when you are using the best care in the world,” he says. Andrew understands better than most that, on farms, the dangers are everywhere. Figures show that from 2004 to 2013, tractors accounted for more than one fifth of all farm accidents, with 14% of accidents down to machinery. Drowning, or slurry gas, accounted …

CLARE TD Michael McNamara has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of his father, Paddy, in a farm accident in 1999. The Scariff man was speaking in the context a farm safety competition, which he has invited Clare primary schools to participate in. A dry stock farmer himself, the Labour TD said the fatal accident had a profound effect on him and his family. “It was an awful shock. Like every other family this has happened to, you always think it will happen to someone else. He was caught between a transport box and a tractor. He was very well known in farming circles here in Clare,” Deputy McNamara said. According to the most recent Health Safety Authority (HSA) figures, since 2010, seven people have died in farm accidents in the county, which includes two deaths last year. The HSA say the most vulnerable groups on any farm are children under the age of 18 and those …

Clare primary schools have been urged by Labour TD, Michael McNamara to take advantage of free online farm safety learning resources, currently being offered by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Deputy McNamara said, “The danger associated with working and living on farms is known to all, with the latest figures showing that 2,000 injuries occur on Irish farms each year. However, the issue has come into stark light recently with two tragic deaths on Clare farms and the death and serious injury of two girls on a Cork farm. “A crucial step in preventing deadly farm accidents is educating our children about the dangers and risks of being on a farm. In this regard, the HSA has produced excellent resources free of charge for primary school teachers looking to broach the topic of farm safety with their pupils. It offers guidelines for teachers, and ideas for making children aware of hazards on the farm, such as machinery, slurry pits and …

Following another tragic farm accident involving children, ICSA president Patrick Kent has again called for health and safety education to be included in the primary school curriculum. An eight-year-old girl died and an 11-year-old girl was critically injured in a farm accident near Newtownshandrum in north Cork on Sunday evening. The two children, who were not sisters, were staying with friends of their parents for the weekend when the incident occurred. The eight-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 11-year-old was brought to Cork University Hospital. “No child should leave primary school without an awareness of health and safety issues including farm safety and road safety,” said Mr. Kent. “We have previously called on Minister Coveney to explore this proposal with his counterpart in the Department of Education and Skills, and our call has also been supported by the Board of Education of the Church of Ireland. However, as there is no evidence of any progress on the …